FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[T_Unit14]

After today I think we can clearly say that the top 4 is:

1. UWW
2. UMU
3. NCC (Yes three, not two, UMU is clearly better)
4. Wesley (weakest of the four on both sides of the ball)

cleary better???....NCC vs. UMU would be a great game....i still think NCC was the toughest game we had...

you still have to take into account that for the most part NCC was at full strength in that game while both WW and UMU were battling injuries at the most key positions at the end of the playoffs...you can not base the talent of Mount as a whole based on their performance today...not without Seaman at QB it just isn't fair...same with the fact people said throughout the playoffs that WW's offense wasn't that great but would fail to mention we were starting our #2 QB as well...

That's true if you count Spencer Stanek as NCC's first string QB; however, many would not.  Brad Crackel was the signal caller all the way until the Elmhurst game, but suffered some broken ribs against Elmhurst in week 9 and was unable to compete for a few games.  In many ways, it was very similar to Whitewater's situation with Brekke.  Crackel was ready to go by the time NCC and Whitewater squared off, but Stanek had already won 4 games (the same number Brekke had won when Whitewater took on UMU).  Both coaching staffs made similar decisions: to stick with the QB that got them there.  But to say that NCC was full strength going into the game against Whitewater would be the same as saying that Whitewater was full strength at the Stagg Bowl.

MTU was also down two OL in the Stagg Bowl.  Don't know if it would have helped much, but that goes with playing football.  The next guy has to step up.

Also, unless you can line up a NCC vs. MTU game this week to settle it on the field, IMO MTU is #2.

Please don't misunderstand.  I'm not stating that NCC is a clear #2.  I'm just making a case that they COULD be the second best team in the nation, not "clearly" the inferior of MTU, as MasterJedi stated and TUnit implied.  Then, I simply presented some facts stats to make my case.  I agree that we will never know for certain since we can't line them up, so all we can do is look at common opponents and speculate.  As far as injuries go, I think it becomes far more abstract if you try to figure in what teams would have done with healthy players.  What's your rationale for MTU's #2 other than bracket shakedown?  Any telling stats you could point to with our common opponent?  (Turnover ratio jumps out at me, but I can't think of any others off the top of my head).  I'm not trying to be snarky or beat my chest, just musing and reflecting on the season.  As far as the D3 top 25 is concerned, I'm positive that MTU will be #2 (and should be until someone other than UWW beats them), but I'm not convinced that they were CLEARLY the second best team in the country.  I would have loved to have seen them play.  It would have been a fantastic game, IMO.

I implied nothing at all...I simply stated that don't judge mount union as a team and as a program off of that one game because they, like WW, were missing their QB's

how in any way did I imply what you are accusing me of?  I have nothin but respect for NCC and I clearly stated they are no WORSE then #3...what am I implying by saying that?

You are correct.  I'm sorry for including you on that.

THANK YOU!!! I just don't want to be seen as someone who feels the need to talk down about or to another program or their fans...I have nothing but respect for NCC after this year and their fans are very intelligent and for the most part sportsman like in their conversations...

[HScoach]

Congrats to UWW on Title #3.  You were the better team, especially along the line of scrimmage which was my biggest fear going in. 


In regards to who's #2 (Mount or NCC), only those that have never been #1 clamor for being #2.

[BoBo]

Blanchard will go into fall practice as the starting quarterback and it will be his position to lose.

Jaypeter, his name could very well be Pirtle.   

...Michael Pirtle.  He played in 3 games, 34 rushes for 264 yards and 3 TD's. Against River Falls, 15-147-2. I think he goes into '11 as the primary Coppage backup. Listed on the roster as 5'9" 167lbs from Milwaukee Bradley Tech H.S. In those 3 games, we saw a young player with a whole lot of speed, but with limited work on the field, I don't feel real comfortable comparing with Coppage just yet. My untrained scouts eyes were very impressed with him in his limited duty. Off-season time in the weight room (& yes WC11, showing his ID card each time of course  ) will do him good.

[jaypeter]

eh, don't worry about trying to compare Pirtle to Coppage.  While they were all good, it was sometimes hard to try to compare Pugh, Kmick, Moore until they had really established themselves.  Even then, they weren't always the same style of runner.  Really, how long did it take before people started buying into comparisons between Coppage and Beavers.  It probably wasn't when Coppage was on the practice squad.

Then again, maybe it was...I'm admittadly not as well-versed on Whitewater's all-time depth charts.

[jaypeter]

Oh, and another thing...as a Purple Raiders fan AND a NY Giants fan, I'm really beginning to hate that dang evil bird logo after this weekend!

[Warhawk 96]

Oh, and another thing...as a Purple Raiders fan AND a NY Giants fan, I'm really beginning to hate that dang evil bird logo after this weekend!

True but at least you aren't about to experience the onslaught that the Packer fans are going to see tonight. This is gonna get ugly....

[theaprof]

Congratulations to the Warhawk faithful.  Great game!  Enjoy your championship.  It is well deserved.

Hopefully we will face each other sometime soon again.

[footballfan413]

Oh, and another thing...as a Purple Raiders fan AND a NY Giants fan, I'm really beginning to hate that dang evil bird logo after this weekend!

True but at least you aren't about to experience the onslaught that the Packer fans are going to see tonight. This is gonna get ugly....

Well, as a Bears fan, I can only say, I sure as hell hope so!    Time for the Pats to make someone else look silly....................  

[BoBo]

Oh, and another thing...as a Purple Raiders fan AND a NY Giants fan, I'm really beginning to hate that dang evil bird logo after this weekend!

True but at least you aren't about to experience the onslaught that the Packer fans are going to see tonight. This is gonna get ugly....

Packers lead 10-7...upset brewing? Looks like it could be a close shave at Gillette Stadium!!    Or not.

[Warhawk 96]

Oh, and another thing...as a Purple Raiders fan AND a NY Giants fan, I'm really beginning to hate that dang evil bird logo after this weekend!

True but at least you aren't about to experience the onslaught that the Packer fans are going to see tonight. This is gonna get ugly....

Packers lead 10-7...upset brewing? Looks like it could be a close shave at Gillette Stadium!!    Or not.

+K Hilarious.

[02 Warhawk]

02 Warhawk,

2011 question; How many starters return for UWW in 2011? I thought about 12-13.  Mount returns 16, but the 6 they lose are good ones!

Not sure on the exact number, but we are losing a ton of key players. the entire offensive line (Except for maybe one lineman) is graduating, including our TE. UWW's top 2 WRs are graduating, which basically leaves just Coppage and Blanchard that are coming back next season.

On the defensive side, i believe we are losing just one DB starter, and all but one or two starters on the front 7 have played their last game.

Both our kickers will be back.

Our DBs were our weakness this season...but will be our strong suit next season. Personally I believe they played brilliantly against Wesley and UMU. so that's a good sign of what's to come.

[Warhawk 96]

Oh, and another thing...as a Purple Raiders fan AND a NY Giants fan, I'm really beginning to hate that dang evil bird logo after this weekend!

True but at least you aren't about to experience the onslaught that the Packer fans are going to see tonight. This is gonna get ugly....

Well, as a Bears fan, I can only say, I sure as hell hope so!    Time for the Pats to make someone else look silly....................  

Also, it was great seeing you and your family this weekend. It's always a good time.....GO PACKERS though!

[MasterJedi]

UWW is losing (just based on year, not sure if they're out of eligibility):

Aaron Rusch (WR)
Lane Olson (DB)
David Leaf (WR)
Matt McCulloch (DB)
Antwan Anderson (RB)
Booker Stanley (RB)
Stephan Jonsson (LB)
Max Ford (LB)
Luke Hibner (DL)
Grant Murray (OL)
Mark Gawronski (OL)
Robbie Ustruck (OL)
Matt Weber (OL)
Adam Brandes (WR)
John Novak (TE)
Jon Baldwin (DL)
Wesley Hicks (DL)

[cubs]

True but at least you aren't about to experience the onslaught that the Packer fans are going to see tonight. This is gonna get ugly....

About the only ugly thing tonight was the play calling in the 4th quarter when the Packers had 1st and Goal inside the Patriots five yard line.  By settling for the FG, it kept it a one possession game instead of a two possession game.  It allowed the Patriots to take the lead with a TD, and forced them to score a TD at the end of the game, instead of kicking a FG to win it.

You can add the clock management in the final minute to the list of "ugly" as well.

[New Tradition]

Congrats to UWW on Title #3.  You were the better team, especially along the line of scrimmage which was my biggest fear going in. 


In regards to who's #2 (Mount or NCC), only those that have never been #1 clamor for being #2.

Good point.  And very true, thinking about it.  But for right now and for our program based on where it was when I was being recruited in 2001, to even be able to construct a somewhat feasible argument to put us in the same league as UMU and UWW, I am VERY proud to be in that company.  So I'm going to revel in it a little bit.